I understand your suspicion but if the parts inside of the steering column look are in good condition as soon as you turn the Key the locking plunger is moved out of position and blocked from returning unless you turn the key back.

Some of us have had our steering column locks apart and in fact I sawed my old one apart to see what was inside.

This only about what I did to deactivate my Locking Plunger on the Steering Colum Lock. I cannot speak for what others did.

Look at the attached picture. you see a black arrow pointing at a small metal piece/Pin. That piece is part of the anti-theft device to keep people from yanking out the Steering Colum Lock without having a key to turn it into the proper position to remove the Steering Colum Lock.

In the picture you see when the Key is turned into the proper position how the Steering Colum Lock Plunger when it is disengaged has a slot around it. In the pic you see the Pin is depressed and it goes into the slot. When that pin is depressed into the slot it holds the Locking Plunger/deactivates it. And, at the same time allows you to pull the Steering Colum Lock out of the Steering Colum Bracket.

What I did is while that Pin is depressed inwards and holding holding/deactivation the Locking Plunger I epoxied it in the depressed position so it permanently holds/deactivates the Locking Plunger (meaning on mine the Locking Plunger never locks the steering column).

In what must be a nearly impossible event that the epoxy did not hold and the pin popped back out the Locking Plunger would simply return to the normal operation. It is not going to lock up from that while you are driving because in order to drive the key is turned to a position that keeps has the Locking Plunger always unlocked.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Assuming you put it back correctly.

Also depending on where that epoxy is you have to make sure that a big chunk of it doesn't fall off and lock the steering as well.

I think we need to shorten the process by you telling us what experience you have actually had with your Steering Colum Lock and the Lock Tumble.

It seems to me I am describing something you have never seen, handled nor know how it works. Please note I welcome informed criticism but also note I have gone through considerable investigation on the subject. One of the reasons I looked this thread was to see if there is something else I could learn about the subject.

See the attached picture. The gray area in the Red Circle is the Epoxy that was applied externally after the Pin was pushed in and held in place by the spring tension of the Steering Colum Locking Plunger.
The Epoxy is too thick to thick and the clearance between the Pin to the side is too small for the Epoxy to get inside. And if for some reason the Epoxy did get inside it would just do even a better job of keeping the Steering Colum Locking Plunger in place.

Notice the yellow arrows and that neither the Ignition Switch nor where the Lock Tumbler mechanism is is anywhere near the Epoxy.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Diesel911 and I have both been inside the lock mechanism. Sounds like christuna hasn't, thus the Chicken-Little fears. Gluing the steering lock rod retainer button in adds no risk and indeed eliminates any risk that the steering lock could actuate while driving.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

Taking that stupid steering wheel locking mechanism out makes it impossible for the stupid mechanism to lock your steering wheel as you drive down the road. Sounds like a good idea to me.

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'75 John Deere 450C (times 2)
'83 240D plus parts car
'87 F350, 6.9L IDI
'89 F350 crewcab, 7.3L IDI
'89 F-Superduty, 7.3L IDI
'91 F-250, 7.3L IDI
'91 F-350, 7.3L IDI
'94 F-350 Crewcab, 7.3L IDI
'94 E-350 Ambulance, 7.3L IDI

When you do that there is also less spring tension for your lock tumbler turn against. It relieves a bit of the stress on you key and lock tumbler.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Both the lock and the ignition tumbler wear together. This is why it is best to replace both at the same time. Last I checked, MB has these in stock in Germany, get them while you can!

I've taken a steering lock apart before but not from an mb.

Anyway I've already stated my reasons why I won't take them apart so I'm not gonna reply to this thread anymore.

Thus the reason I opted for the complete removal.

The rotating mass that operates the steering lock was the
culprit in my situation. Internal parts wear and fail to operate
smoothly resulting in the inability to disengage the steering lock.

I have my tumbler out now. I was using a screwdriver to turn the mechanism to the first position so that I can depress the lock pin to pull the assembly out. But, now I'm not able to turn the mechanism. Probably the same problem that was causing the key to intermittently not turn. Eventually, the key did turn. I suppose I'll have to just keep trying until it mysteriously turns. Then I'll pull the assembly out. Any other suggestions on how to get it to turn???